Magnetoresistive memory device

ABSTRACT

A magnetoresistive memory device includes a first magnetic layer having a variable magnetization direction; a second magnetic layer, a magnetization direction of the second magnetic layer being invariable; a first nonmagnetic layer provided between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer; and a second nonmagnetic layer provided on the first magnetic layer, which is opposite the first nonmagnetic layer. The first magnetic layer having a stacked layer structure in which amorphous magnetic material layer is sandwiched between crystalline magnetic material layers.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation application of U.S. Ser. No.15/268,507, filed on Sep. 16, 2016, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/308,156, filed on Mar. 14, 2016, theentire contents of both of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

Embodiments described herein relate generally to a magnetoresistivememory device.

BACKGROUND

Recently, there are expectations and attention on a large-capacitymagnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) in which a magnetic tunneljunction (MTJ) element is used. In the MTJ element, one of the twomagnetic layers which sandwich a tunnel barrier layer is formed as amagnetization fixed layer (a reference layer) in which the direction ofmagnetization is fixed to be invariable, and the other magnetic layer isformed as a magnetization free layer (a storage layer) in which thedirection of magnetization is made to be easily reversed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view which schematically illustrates a magnetoresistivememory device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I′ of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II′ of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of a memory cellportion of the magnetoresistive memory device of the first embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of a memory cellportion according to a modification of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of a memory cellportion according to another modification of the first embodiment. FIG.7 is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship between annealingtemperature T and anisotropic magnetic field Hk.

FIG. 8 is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship betweensaturation magnetization Mst and anisotropic magnetic field Hk.

FIG. 9 is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship between theannealing temperature and anisotropic magnetic field Hk.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of a memory cellportion of a magnetoresistive memory device of a second embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of a memory cellportion of a magnetoresistive memory device of a third embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a modification of the thirdembodiment.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of a memory cellportion of a magnetoresistive memory device of a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of a memory cellportion according to a modification of the fourth embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a characteristic diagram showing a change in saturationmagnetization Mst when a buffer layer is varied.

FIG. 16 is a characteristic diagram showing a change in an anisotropicmagnetic field Hk when the buffer layer is varied.

FIG. 17 is a characteristic diagram showing a change in the saturationmagnetization Mst with respect to a ratio of W or Mo added to CFB.

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of a memory cellportion used in a magnetoresistive memory device according to a fifthembodiment.

FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram showing a structure of an MTJ elementportion of FIG. 18 in comparison with a comparative example.

FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view showing a modification of the fifthembodiment.

FIG. 21 is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship between athickness of a magnetic material layer and saturation magnetization Mstof a storage layer.

FIG. 22 is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship betweensaturation magnetization Mst and anisotropic magnetic field Hk.

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of an MTJ elementportion used in a magnetoresistive memory device according to a sixthembodiment.

FIGS. 24A and 24B are diagrams schematically showing a structure of theMTJ element portion of FIG. 23.

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view showing a structure of a memory cellportion according to a modification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In general, according to one embodiment, a magnetoresistive memorydevice comprises: a first magnetic layer in which a magnetizationdirection is variable; a first nonmagnetic layer provided on the firstmagnetic layer, the first magnetic layer including Mo; a second magneticlayer provided on the first nonmagnetic layer, a magnetization directionof the second magnetic layer being invariable; and a second nonmagneticlayer provided on the first magnetic layer, which is opposite the firstnonmagnetic layer.

(First Embodiment)

FIG. 1 is a plan view which schematically illustrates a magnetoresistivememory device according to a first embodiment. FIG. 2 is across-sectional view taken along line I-I′ of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is across-sectional view taken along line II-II′ of FIG. 1.

A member indicated by a broken line in FIGS. 2 and 3 represents a plugSC at the back side which cannot be seen in the I-I′ and II-II′cross-sections.

The magnetoresistive memory device of the present embodiment is an MRAMcomprising an MTJ element (a magnetoresistive element) of aspin-transfer-torque writing method as a storage element. Aperpendicular magnetization film is used in the above MTJ element. Theperpendicular magnetization film is a magnetization film in which thedirection of magnetization (direction of axis of easy magnetization) issubstantially perpendicular to the film plane of the perpendicularmagnetization film.

In the drawings, 101 indicates a silicon substrate (a semiconductorsubstrate), and an element isolation region 102 is formed on a surfaceof the silicon substrate 101. The element isolation region 102 definesan active region.

The MRAM of the present embodiment comprises a first select transistorin which a gate electrode is word line WL1, a first MTJ element M whichis connected to source/drain region 104 (drain region D1) on one side ofthe first select transistor, a second select transistor in which a gateelectrode is word line WL2, and a second MTJ element M which isconnected to source/drain region 104 (drain region D2) on one side ofthe second select transistor. In the drawing, 103 indicates a protectiveinsulating film. That is, a memory cell of the present embodiment isconstituted of an MTJ (a storage element) and a select transistor, andtwo select transistors of the adjacent two memory cells sharesource/drain region 104 (source regions S1, S2), which is thesource/drain region on the other side.

A gate (a gate insulating film and a gate electrode) of the selecttransistor of the present embodiment is buried in a surface of thesilicon substrate 101. That is, the gate of the present embodiment has aburied gate (BG) structure. Similarly, a gate (word line WL) for elementisolation has the BG structure.

Source/drain region 104 (D1) on one side of the first select transistoris connected to the lower part of the first MTJ element M via a bottomelectrode BEC. The upper part of the first MTJ element M is connected toa bit line BL2 via a top electrode TEC. Source/drain region 104 (S1) onthe other side of the first select transistor is connected to bit lineBL1 via the plug SC.

In the present embodiment, while a planar pattern of each of the bottomelectrode BEC, the MTJ element M, the top electrode TEC, and the plug SCis circular, they may be formed in another shape.

Source/drain region 104 (D2) on one side of the second select transistoris connected to the lower part of the second MTJ element M via a bottomelectrode BEC. The upper part of the second MTJ element M is connectedto bit line BL2 via a top electrode TEC. Source/drain region 104 (S2) onthe other side of the second select transistor is connected to bit lineBL1 via the plug SC.

The first select transistor, the first MTJ element M, the second selecttransistor, and the second MTJ element M (i.e., two memory cells) areprovided in every active region. The two adjacent active regions areseparated from each other by the element isolation region 102.

Word lines WL3 and WL4 correspond to word lines WL1 and WL2,respectively. Accordingly, two memory cells are constituted by a firstselect transistor in which word line WL3 is a gate, a first MTJ elementM which is connected to a source/drain region on one side of the firstselect transistor, a second select transistor in which word line WL4 isa gate, and a second MTJ element M which is connected to a source/drainregion on one side of the second select transistor.

Note that the layout of the MTJ element, BL, WL, etc., is in no waylimited to the illustration of FIGS. 1 to 3. For example, BL2 may bearranged at a lower layer than BL1. Further, an active region may beinclined with respect to a gate electrode.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a specific structure of an MTJelement portion employed in the present embodiment.

On the bottom electrode (BEC) connected to the drain region of theselect transistor, an underlayer (UL [second nonmagnetic layer]) 12 isformed via a buffer layer 11 (BuL). As the buffer layer 11, Al, Be, Mg,Ca, Sr, Ba, Sc, Y, La, Si, Zr, Hf, W, Cr, Mo, Nb, Ti, Ta, V, etc., maybe used. Also, a boride of the above elements may be included.

The boride is not limited to a binary compound consisting of twoelements, but may be a ternary compound consisting of three elements.That is, the boride may be a mixture of a binary compound. For instance,examples of such a boride are HfB, MgAlB, HfAlB, ScAlB, ScHfB, andHfMgB. Further, the aforementioned materials may be stacked.

The underlayer 12 may be a nitrogen compound or an oxygen compound suchas MgN, ZrN, NbN, SiN, AIN, HfN, TaN, WN, CrN, MoN, TiN, VN, and MgO, ora mixture of these compounds. That is, the underlayer 12 is not limitedto a binary compound consisting of two elements, but may be a ternarycompound consisting of three elements such as aluminum titanium nitride(AlTiN).

The nitrogen compound and the oxygen compound suppress an increase in adamping constant of a magnetic layer which is in contact with thesecompounds, and an advantage of reducing write current can be obtained.Further, by using a nitrogen compound or an oxygen compound ofhigh-melting-point metal, it is possible to suppress diffusion of anunderlayer material into a magnetic layer and prevent deterioration ofan MR ratio. Here, a high-melting-point metal is a material having ahigher melting point than Fe or Co, and is, for example, Zr, Hf, W, Cr,Mo, Nb, Ti, Ta, and V.

When a nitrogen compound or an oxygen compound is used as the underlayer12, the magnetic anisotropy of a storage layer 20, described later, canbe greatly improved. That is, by using MgO, for example, for theunderlayer 12 and a tunnel barrier layer (TB) 30, the storage layer 20is sandwiched between layers of MgO. Accordingly, at the interfacebetween the storage layer 20 and the underlayer 12, and the interfacebetween the storage layer 20 and the tunnel barrier layer 30, theinterfacial anisotropy can be developed, and perpendicular magneticanisotropy of the storage layer 20 can be doubled in principle.

On the underlayer 12, the storage layer 20 (SL [first magnetic layer])in which a middle layer 22 is sandwiched between magnetic materiallayers 21 and 23 is formed. That is, the storage layer 20 in which threelayers 21, 22, and 23 are stacked is formed. Each of the magneticmaterial layers 21 and 23 is an alloy including Fe and Co, and further,B, may be included. Further, the middle layer 22 includes Mo. Here,since Mo is a material which has a higher melting point than themagnetic material layers 21 and 22, and is hard to oxidize, it issuitable as the material used for the middle layer 22.

On the storage layer 20, a reference layer 40 (RL [second magneticlayer]) is formed via the tunnel barrier layer (first nonmagnetic layer)30. After these layers 11, 12, 20, 30, and 40 have been stacked on theBEC, by selectively etching the layers by ion beam etching (IBE) orreactive ion etching (RIE), etc., they are processed into a cellpattern. Further, the top electrode (TEC) is formed on the referencelayer 40.

The storage layer 20 has magnetic anisotropy perpendicular to a filmsurface, and a magnetization direction is variable. The magneticmaterial layers 21 and 23 of the storage layer 20 are not limited toCoFeB, and various magnetic materials can be used. For example, CoB orFeB can also be used.

If the middle layer 22 has a great film thickness, magnetic couplingbetween the magnetic material layers 21 and 23 may be cut. Accordingly,the film thickness of the middle layer 22 must be set within a rangethat allows the magnetic material layers 21 and 23 to be magneticallycoupled. For example, the film thickness should preferably be 0.5 nm orless. Since Mo is a material which has a higher melting point thanCoFeB, and is also hard to oxidize, this material does not causeunnecessary diffusion in annealing, or decrease the MR ratio.

Also, the middle layer 22 is not necessarily limited to a single layerof Mo. It is sufficient if the storage layer 20 includes magneticmaterials such as Fe and Co, and Mo. For example, a structure in which alayer including Mo is inserted into a part of the storage layer 20 ofCoFeB, or a single-layer alloy of CoFeBMo, for example, as shown in FIG.5, may be adopted.

The tunnel barrier layer 30 is a layer for passing a tunneling current,and various nonmagnetic materials can be used. In the presentembodiment, while the tunnel barrier layer 30 is formed of MgO, an oxideincluding Cu, Si, Ba, Ca, La, Mn, Zn, Hf, Ta, Ti, B, Cr, V or Al canalso be used.

The reference layer 40 is an alloy including Fe and Co, for example, andmay be CoFeB further including B. The reference layer 40 has magneticanisotropy perpendicular to a film surface, and a magnetizationdirection is fixed. The material of the reference layer 40 is notlimited to CoFeB, and various magnetic materials can be used. Forexample, CoPt, CoNi, CoPd, etc., can be used. Further, Fe/Pt (asuperlattice structure formed by a stacked layer structure of Fe andPt), Fe/Pd, Co/Pt, and Co/Pd can be used.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, in order to cancel or reduce a straymagnetic field, a shift canceling layer 50 having a magnetizationdirection opposite to that of the reference layer 40 may be provided onthe reference layer 40. As the material of the shift canceling layer 50,various magnetic materials can be used likewise the reference layer 40.

FIG. 7 is a graph showing the relationship between annealing temperatureT and anisotropic magnetic field Hk. As shown in FIG. 7, the higher theannealing temperature is, the smaller the magnetic anisotropy of thestorage layer 20 becomes. However, in cases where the middle layer 22 isformed of W and Mo, respectively, the annealing temperature dependenceis lower than that of a case where the middle layer 22 is formed of Ta.Further, when a high-temperature annealing process is performed, W andMo have greater magnetic anisotropy than Ta.

FIG. 8 is a graph showing the relationship between saturationmagnetization Mst and anisotropic magnetic field Hk of the storage layer20 when the MTJ element portion is annealed. As shown in FIG. 8, thegreater the saturation magnetization Mst is, the smaller the magneticanisotropy of the storage layer 20 becomes. Also, greater magneticanisotropy can be obtained with Mo as compared to Ta and W.

As in the present embodiment, by using Mo as the material of the middlelayer 22 of the storage layer 20, improvement in the thermal resistancecan be achieved. In addition, if the same material, i.e., MgO, is usedfor the underlayer 12 and the tunnel barrier layer 30, the MgO-CoFeBinterfacial anisotropy can be developed from both of the two interfacesof the storage layer 20, and perpendicular magnetic anisotropy of thestorage layer 20 can be doubled in principle. As a result, thermalstability (Δ) and reduction of write current can be achieved. Thisadvantage becomes more significant when the film thickness of thestorage layer 20 is increased.

Here, since a single layer of CoFeB sandwiched between MgO layers ishard to crystallize, Ta has been considered as the middle layer whichabsorbs B and promotes crystallization. However, since the thermalresistance is low in the middle layer of Ta, perpendicular magneticanisotropy may be degraded by a high-temperature heat treatment wherebya high TMR can be obtained.

In contrast, in the present embodiment, by using Mo instead of Ta,thermal resistance is greatly improved, and greater perpendicularmagnetic anisotropy than when a Ta middle layer is used in ahigh-temperature heat treatment is realized. Preferably, the thicknessof an Mo film of the middle layer should be 5 Å at a maximum whichallows magnetic coupling between two magnetic layers.

Also, when the middle layer 20 is formed of Mo, an advantage that ananisotropic magnetic field Hk can be more increased with an oxideunderlayer (MgO) than with a nitride underlayer (AlN) is obtained.

FIG. 9 is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship between theannealing temperature and the anisotropic magnetic field Hk of thestorage layer 20.

In FIG. 9, (1) corresponds to a case where the underlayer is formed ofAlN and the middle layer is formed of Mo, (2) corresponds to a casewhere the underlayer is formed of AlN and the middle layer is formed ofW, (3) corresponds to a case where the underlayer is formed of AlN andthe middle layer is formed of Ta, (4) corresponds to a case where theunderlayer is formed of MgO and the middle layer is formed of W, (5)corresponds to a case where the underlayer is formed of MgO and themiddle layer is formed of Mo, and (6) corresponds to a case where theunderlayer is formed of MgO and the middle layer is formed of Ta. As canbe seen from this diagram, when the middle layer is formed of Mo,regardless of the annealing temperature, the anisotropic magnetic fieldHk is increased when MgO is used for the underlayer. Therefore, when themiddle layer 20 is formed of Mo, it is preferable that an oxide such asMgO, instead of a nitride such as AlN, be used as the underlayer 12.This also applies to a case where the storage layer 20 is a single-layeralloy including Mo, as shown in FIG. 5.

As can be seen, according to the present embodiment, by using Mo as thematerial of the middle layer 22 of the storage layer 20 having athree-layer structure, it is possible to improve the magnetic anisotropyof the storage layer 20, and also to improve the thermal resistance.Moreover, when Mo is used for the middle layer 22, by using an oxidesuch as MgO as the underlayer 12, there is also an advantage that theanisotropic magnetic field Hk can further be increased. Accordingly, amagnetoresistive memory device having good magnetic properties andthermal resistance can be realized.

(Second Embodiment)

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of an MTJelement portion used in a magnetoresistive memory device according to asecond embodiment. It should be noted that the same portions as those ofFIG. 4 will be given the same reference numbers, and detailedexplanations of them will be omitted.

The point in which the present embodiment is different from the firstembodiment described above is that a nitrogen compound is used for anunderlayer 12, and Mo or W is used for a middle layer 22 of a storagelayer 20. Here, the nitrogen compound is the same as that described inthe first embodiment, and is, for example, MgN, ZrN, NbN, SiN, AIN, HfN,TaN, WN, CrN, MoN, TiN, or VN, or a mixture of the aforementionedmaterials. That is, the underlayer 12 is not limited to a binarycompound consisting of two elements, but may be a ternary compoundconsisting of three elements such as aluminum titanium nitride (AlTiN).As described in the first embodiment, even in a case where the nitrogencompound is used for the underlayer 12, interfacial anisotropy of CoFeBcan be developed from both of the two interfaces of the storage layer20, and perpendicular magnetic anisotropy of the storage layer 20 can beincreased. Further, when a nitrogen compound is used as the underlayer12, an advantage of reducing a damping constant and reducing writecurrent can also be obtained. Also, since each of Mo and W is a materialwhich has a higher melting point than magnetic material layers 21 and22, and is harder to oxidize than Ta, Mo and W are suitable as thematerials used for the middle layer 22.

Note that the middle layer 22 is not necessarily limited to a singlelayer of Mo or W. It is sufficient if the storage layer 20 includesmagnetic materials such as Fe and Co, and Mo or W. For example, astructure in which a layer including W is inserted into the storagelayer 20 of CoFeB, or an alloy of CoFeBW, for example, may be adopted.

As can be seen, according to the present embodiment, by using a nitrogencompound as the underlayer 12 of the storage layer 20, and using Mo or Was the material of the middle layer 22 of the storage layer 20, it ispossible to improve the magnetic anisotropy of the storage layer 20, andalso to improve the thermal resistance. Accordingly, an advantagesimilar to that of the first embodiment can be obtained. Further, anadvantage of reducing a damping constant and reducing write current canalso be obtained.

(Third Embodiment)

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of an MTJelement portion used in a magnetoresistive memory device according to athird embodiment. It should be noted that the same portions as those ofFIG. 4 will be given the same reference numbers, and detailedexplanations of them will be omitted.

The point in which the present embodiment is different from the firstand second embodiments is that a plurality of middle layers areprovided. In other words, a storage layer 20 is formed such that it isconstituted of more than three layers. More specifically, the storagelayer 20 has a five-layer structure including a first magnetic materiallayer 21, a first middle layer 22, a second magnetic material layer 23,a second middle layer 24, and a third magnetic material layer 25. Themiddle layers 22 and 24 are formed of Mo or W, and an underlayer 12 is anitrogen compound or an oxygen compound, or a mixture of thesecompounds. Note that the number of middle layers is not limited to two,and may be three or more so that the storage layer 20 as a whole isformed of seven layers or more. FIG. 12. shows an example of a case inwhich the number of the middle layers is three, and the number of thestorage layers is seven. In FIG. 12, reference number 26 denotes a thirdmiddle layer, and reference number 27 denotes a fourth magnetic materiallayer.

Even with such a structure, an advantage similar to those of the firstand second embodiments can surely be obtained. Also, in the presentembodiment, by providing a plurality of middle layers, i.e., the middlelayers 22 and 24, in the storage layer 20, the second magnetic materiallayer 23 is sandwiched between the middle layers without contacting anunderlayer 12.

In this case, since the second magnetic material layer 23 is notcrystallized, saturation magnetization Mst is reduced. Therefore, thereis an advantage that an activation volume is increased, and the thermalstability Δ is increased.

(Fourth Embodiment)

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of an MTJelement portion used in a magnetoresistive memory device according to afourth embodiment. It should be noted that the same portions as those ofFIG. 4 will be given the same reference numbers, and detailedexplanations of them will be omitted.

The point in which the present embodiment is different from the firstand second embodiments is that two buffer layers, i.e., buffer layers 61and 62, are provided beneath an underlayer 12.

On a bottom electrode (BEC) connected to a drain region of a selecttransistor, a first buffer layer (BuL1) 61 and a second buffer layer(BuL2) 62 are stacked. Preferably, the material of the second bufferlayer 62 on the lower side should be amorphous, or a material which doesnot inhibit the amorphous property of the buffer layer 61. It issufficient if the second buffer layer 62 on the lower side is one whichhas a small lattice mismatching with the underlayer 12 in order to formthe underlayer 12 with good crystallinity. More specifically, the samematerial as that used for the buffer layer 11 described in the firstembodiment can be used. It suffices that the first buffer layer 61 onthe upper side is one which includes W or Mo in Co and Fe in order forit to be amorphous. For example, W or Mo is added to CoFeB alloy.

On the buffer layer 61, the underlayer 12 is formed. The underlayer 12is, for example, an oxygen compound or a mixture thereof. Further, onthe underlayer 12, as in the first embodiment, a storage layer 20 (SL[first magnetic layer]), a tunnel barrier layer 30, and a referencelayer 40 are formed. As in the first or second embodiment, the storagelayer 20 has a stacked layer structure in which a middle layer 22 formedof Mo or W is sandwiched between magnetic material layers 21 and 23 ofCoFeB. Moreover, the storage layer 20 is not necessarily limited to astacked layer structure, and may be a single-layer alloy of CoFeBMo, forexample, or a single-layer alloy of CoFeBW, for example, as shown inFIG. 14, may be adopted. Further, the storage layer 20 is notnecessarily limited to one which includes Mo or W, and it may be asingle magnetic layer of CoFeB or CoFe, etc., without a middle layer.

As in the present embodiment, by providing the amorphous buffer layer61, the orientation of the underlayer 12 can be improved. When theorientation of the underlayer 12 is improved, the crystallinity of CoFeBformed thereon is improved. In this way, the element characteristics canbe improved.

Here, by the form of a layer beneath the underlayer 12, saturationmagnetization or an anisotropic magnetic field of the MTJ elementportion show different values. Hence, the saturation magnetization Mstand the anisotropic magnetic field Hk have been verified for three caseswhere (a) when only the second buffer layer 62 is provided beneath theMgO underlayer 12, (b) when a stacked layer structure of CFB and thesecond buffer layer 62 is provided, and (c) when a stacked layerstructure of CFB-W (alloy in which W is added to CFB: first buffer layer61) and the second buffer layer 62 is provided. FIGS. 15 and 16 show theresults.

As shown in FIG. 15, in case (b) corresponding to the stacked layerstructure of CFB and the second buffer layer 62, the saturationmagnetization Mst is great since the buffer layers are magneticmaterials. In contrast, when W is added to the CFB (case c), since thebuffer layers become nonmagnetic, the saturation magnetization can bemade small.

Also, as shown in FIG. 16, as compared to case (a) where only the secondbuffer layer 62 is provided beneath the MgO underlayer 12, in case (b)corresponding to the stacked layer structure of CFB and the secondbuffer layer 62, the anisotropic magnetic field Hk is increased.Further, when W is added to the CFB (case c), the anisotropic magneticfield Hk is further increased. It has been found that also in a casewhere Mo is added to CFB, the characteristics tend to be similar tothose indicated in FIGS. 15 and 16.

In view of the foregoing, anisotropy of the storage layer 20 ismaintained by providing the first buffer layer 61 and the second bufferlayer 62 beneath the underlayer 12. Further, since the buffer layers arenonmagnetic, the buffer layers do not adversely affect a write currentto the storage layer 20 or a stability factor.

FIG. 17 shows the relationship between the ratio of W or Mo in thebuffer layer 61 and the saturation magnetization Mst. In order to makeMst of the buffer layer 61 sufficiently small, the ratio of W or Moshould preferably be 30 atm % or more. However, if the buffer layer 61is crystallized as a result of too high a ratio of W or Mo, the MgOunderlayer 12 is crystallized in an undesired orientation. Accordingly,the ratio of W or Mo may be set at a level which allows the buffer layer61 to maintain the amorphous state.

Also, the magnetic material in the buffer layer 61 is not limited toCoFeB, and various magnetic materials can be used. For example, CoB orFeB can also be used.

As can be seen, according to the present embodiment, by providing thesecond buffer layer 62 and the amorphous first buffer layer 61 beneaththe underlayer 12, the underlayer 12 can be crystalline-oriented, andthe crystallinity of the storage layer 20 can be improved. Thereby, theelement characteristics of the magnetoresistive memory device can beimproved.

Note that even if a nitrogen compound or an oxygen compound other thanMgO, or a mixture of such compounds is used as the underlayer 12, anadvantage of improving the orientation of the underlayer 12 achieved byforming two buffer layers can be obtained.

(Fifth Embodiment)

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of a memory cellportion used in a magnetoresistive memory device according to a fifthembodiment. It should be noted that the same portions as those of FIG. 4will be given the same reference numbers, and detailed explanations ofthem will be omitted. Also, FIG. 19 schematically shows a differencebetween an MTJ element portion shown in FIG. 18 and a comparativeexample.

The point in which the present embodiment is different from the firstembodiment described above is that a magnetic material layer 72 formedof amorphous CoFeB is used instead of the middle layer 22. That is, anunderlayer (UL) 12 is provided on a bottom electrode (BEC) via a bufferlayer (BuL) 11. On the underlayer 12, a storage layer 20 (SL [firstmagnetic layer]) in which the amorphous magnetic material layer 72 issandwiched between crystalline magnetic material layers 21 and 23 isformed. That is, the storage layer 20 in which three layers, i.e.,layers 21, 72, and 23, are stacked is formed. Further, a reference layer40 is formed on the magnetic material layer 23 via a tunnel barrierlayer 30.

Here, the magnetic material layers 21 and 23 are formed of crystallineCoFeB, and the barrier layer 30 is formed of MgO, AlO, MgAlO, or ZnO.The CoFeB of the magnetic material layers 21 and 23 is a crystallinematerial of bcc (001) orientation, and the concentration of B is greaterthan or equal to 0 at % and less than or equal to 30 at %. CoFeB of themagnetic material layer 72 is an amorphous material having lesscrystallinity than the magnetic material layers 21 and 23, and theconcentration of B is 0 to 30 at %. Note that as the magnetic materiallayers 21 and 23 and the barrier layer 30, various materials describedin the first embodiment can be used. Further, as the underlayer 12,various materials described in the first embodiment can be used.

In order to improve retention of the storage layer 20 of the MTJ elementportion and reduce a write current, it is necessary to reduce thesaturation magnetization Mst of the storage layer 20. However, if theMst is simply reduced, the TMR and perpendicular magnetic anisotropy areadversely affected. The CoFeB used for the storage layer 20 iscrystallized from the amorphous state at the time of film formation whensubjected to heat treatment, and a high TMR and perpendicular magneticanisotropy are exhibited. That is, preferably, an interface between thebarrier layer 30 and the underlayer 12 should be structured such thatthe TMR and the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy are maintained by thecrystalline CoFeB, and the Mst is reduced by arranging the amorphousCoFeB as the middle layer of the storage layer 20.

Further, in order to form the storage layer 20 with bcc-CFB andamorphous CFB separately, the concentration of B may be adjusted.Generally, when the concentration of B is greater than or equal to 0 at% and less than or equal to 30 at %, a region which is crystallized isgreater than a region which is amorphous. When the concentration of B is25 at % or more, the amorphous region is greater. In the range of 25 to30 at %, according to the condition of crystallization, a crystallizedregion and an amorphous region are mixed.

As can be seen, in the present embodiment, by using crystalline CoFeBfor the magnetic material layers 21 and 23 of the storage layer 20, andusing amorphous CoFeB for the magnetic material layer 72 in the middle,it is possible to reduce the saturation magnetization Mst in the storagelayer 20 while maintaining the TMR and the perpendicular magneticanisotropy.

FIG. 20 is a further improvement of the present embodiment, and thedifference is that a nonmagnetic material layer is provided betweenamorphous CoFeB and crystalline CoFeB. That is, in addition to thestructure illustrated in FIG. 18, a nonmagnetic material layer 71 formedof W, etc., is inserted between the magnetic material layer 21 formed ofcrystalline CoFeB and the magnetic material layer 72 formed of amorphousCoFeB, and a nonmagnetic material layer 73 formed of W, etc., isinserted between the magnetic material layer 72 formed of amorphousCoFeB and the magnetic material layer 23 formed of crystalline CoFeB.

Here, as the nonmagnetic material layers 71 and 73, a high-melting pointmaterial such as W, Mo, or Ta should preferably be used. In thisexample, by inserting the nonmagnetic material layers 71 and 73, adifference between crystallinity of the crystalline layer and theamorphous layer can be exhibited.

FIG. 21 is a characteristic diagram showing the relationship between thethickness of the magnetic material layer 72 and the saturationmagnetization of the storage layer 20 multiplied by the film thickness(“saturation magnetization×film thickness”)[Mst]. Here, [Mst] in FIG. 21is product of the saturation magnetization of the storage layer 20 andthe film thickness of the storage layer 20. FIG. 22 is a characteristicdiagram showing the relationship between the saturation magnetizationmultiplied by the film thickness and the anisotropic magnetic field Hk.In the drawing, (1) corresponds to a case where only the nonmagneticmaterial layer is provided without the magnetic material layer 72, (2)corresponds to a case where the nonmagnetic material layers 71 and 73are formed of Mo, and (3) corresponds to a case where the nonmagneticmaterial layers 71 and 73 are formed of W.

As shown in FIG. 21, as compared to (1) in which no magnetic materiallayer 72 is provided, Mst can be reduced in (2) and (3) including CoFeB.The nonmagnetic material layers 71 and 73 being formed of W can morereduce the saturation magnetization multiplied by the film thicknessthan the nonmagnetic material layers 71 and 73 being formed of Mo. Also,as shown in FIG. 22, the smaller the saturation magnetization Mst is,the greater the anisotropic magnetic field Hk is. However, a structurein which the nonmagnetic material layers 71 and 73 are arrangedrespectively between the middle magnetic material layer 72 and themagnetic material layer 21, and between the middle magnetic materiallayer 72 and the magnetic material layer 23 can more increase theanisotropic magnetic field Hk. Accordingly, by adopting the structuresof (2) and (3), the saturation magnetization can be reduced withoutdegrading the magnetic anisotropy.

(Sixth Embodiment)

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view showing the structure of an MTJelement portion used in a magnetoresistive memory device according to asixth embodiment. It should be noted that the same portions as those ofFIG. 4 will be given the same reference numbers, and detailedexplanations of them will be omitted. Also, the schematic structure ofthe MTJ element portion is shown in FIGS. 24A and 24B. FIG. 24A shows anexample in which an SL is formed of three layers indicated as 21 to 23,and FIG. 24B shows an example in which the SL is formed of a singlelayer.

The point in which the present embodiment is different from the firstand the second embodiment is that two buffer layers, i.e., buffer layers81 and 82, are provided below an underlayer 12. Further, the point inwhich the present embodiment is different from the fourth embodiment isthat amorphous Mo is used for the buffer layer 81.

On a bottom electrode (BEC) connected to a drain region of a selecttransistor, a first buffer layer (BuL1) 81 and a second buffer layer(BuL2) 82 are stacked. The buffer layer 81 on the upper side shouldpreferably be amorphous, and is formed of, for example, Mo. Theamorphous Mo is realized by adding a semimetal element such as B or Sito Mo, or by a thin layer of Mo before being subjected to crystal growthof 10 Å or so.

Preferably, the material of the buffer layer 82 on the lower side shouldbe amorphous, or a material which does not inhibit the amorphousproperty of the buffer layer 81. More specifically, the same material asthat of the buffer layer 11 described in the first embodiment can beused.

On the buffer layer 81, the underlayer 12 is formed. The underlayer 12is an oxygen compound, which is MgO, for example. Further, on theunderlayer 12, as in the first embodiment, a storage layer 20 (SL [firstmagnetic layer]), a tunnel barrier layer 30, and a reference layer 40are formed. Likewise the first or the second embodiment, the storagelayer 20 has a stacked layer structure in which a middle layer 22 formedof Mo or W is sandwiched between magnetic material layers 21 and 23 ofCoFeB.

Further, the storage layer 20 is not necessarily limited to a stackedlayer structure, and may be a single-layer alloy of CoFeBMo, forexample, or a single-layer alloy of CoFeBW, for example. Furthermore,the storage layer 20 is not necessarily limited to one which includes Moor W, and it may be a single magnetic layer of CoFeB or CoFe, etc.

As in the present embodiment, by providing the buffer layer 81 ofamorphous Mo, the orientation of the MgO underlayer 12 can be improved.When the orientation of the MgO underlayer 12 is improved, thecrystallinity of CoFeB formed thereon is improved. In this way, theelement characteristics can be improved. When amorphous Mo is used forthe buffer layer 81, if the thickness is around 10 Å, substantially thesame level of anisotropic magnetic field Hk as CoFeBMo can be obtained.

When MgO is used for the underlayer 12 of the storage layer 20 of theMTJ element portion, perpendicular magnetic anisotropy PMA is developedfrom both of the two interfaces of the storage layer 20, and retentioncan be improved. Since the PMA is improved in accordance with (001)orientation of the NaCl structure of the MgO underlayer, a material ofthe buffer layer of the MgO underlayer 12, in particular, the bufferlayer 81 immediately below the MgO underlayer 12 is important. Whileusing quarternary alloy (CFB-Mo) obtained by adding Mo to CoFeB as inthe fourth embodiment can improve the orientation of the MgO underlayer12, a similar advantage can also be obtained with a single layer as inthe present embodiment. The Mo buffer layer 81 should preferably beamorphous, and can be realized by adding a semimetal element such as Bor Si to Mo, or by a thin layer of Mo before being subjected to crystalgrowth of approximately 10 to 30 Å.

Note that the underlayer 12 is not necessarily limited to MgO, and it isexpected that a similar advantage can be obtained as long as theunderlayer 12 is an oxide.

As described above, in the present embodiment, likewise the fourthembodiment which has already been explained, the element characteristicsof the magnetoresistive memory device can be improved. Further, there isalso an advantage that the parasitic resistance of the MgO underlayer isreduced, and the TMR may be improved when the buffer layer 81 of Mo isused as in the present embodiment, as compared to a case where thebuffer layer 61 formed of CoFeBMo is used as in the fourth embodiment.

(Modification)

Note that the embodiments are not limited to those described above.

In the present embodiments, the storage layer 20 is arranged on the sideof the substrate, and the reference layer 30 is arranged on the oppositeside. However, the positional relationship between these layers may bemade opposite, as shown in FIG. 25. The underlayer 12 is not necessarilyprovided on a substrate 10, and it is sufficient if the underlayer 12contacts the storage layer 20.

In the first to third embodiments, when the underlayer 12 can be formedwith good crystallinity even if the buffer 11 is not provided, thebuffer layer 11 can be omitted. Also, the number of middle layers in thestorage layer 20 is not limited to one or two. That is, three or moremiddle layers may be provided.

In the fourth embodiment, when the crystallinity of the underlayer 12 issufficiently good even if the second buffer layer 62 is not provided,the second buffer layer 62 can be omitted. Further, in a case where thecrystallinity of the underlayer 12 is improved and sufficientcharacteristics as the storage layer 20 can be obtained by simplyproviding the first buffer layer 61, the storage layer 20 may be formedas a single layer, instead of forming it into stacked layer structure.Also, in order to make the buffer layer amorphous, CFB may be mixed intoW or Mo, instead of adding W or Mo to a magnetic material of CFB, etc.Furthermore, as long as the buffer layer can be formed amorphous, Mo ora material including Mo as the main component may be used.

In addition, the material of each layer is not limited to that describedin the above embodiments, and can be changed as appropriate according tothe specification. Further, the film thickness of each layer can bechanged as appropriate according to the specification.

While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments havebeen presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit thescope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel embodiments described hereinmay be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, variousomissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the embodimentsdescribed herein may be made without departing from the spirit of theinventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intendedto cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope andspirit of the inventions.

What is claimed is:
 1. A magnetoresistive memory device comprising: afirst magnetic layer having a variable magnetization direction; a secondmagnetic layer, a magnetization direction of the second magnetic layerbeing invariable; a first nonmagnetic layer provided between the firstmagnetic layer and the second magnetic layer; and a second nonmagneticlayer provided on the first magnetic layer, which is opposite the firstnonmagnetic layer, the first magnetic layer having a stacked layerstructure in which amorphous magnetic material layer is sandwichedbetween crystalline magnetic material layers.
 2. The device of claim 1,further comprising nonmagnetic material layers provided between one ofthe crystalline magnetic material layers and the amorphous magneticmaterial layer, and between the other crystalline magnetic layer and theamorphous magnetic material layer, respectively.
 3. A magnetoresistivememory device comprising: a first magnetic layer having a variablemagnetization direction; a second magnetic layer, a magnetizationdirection of the second magnetic layer being invariable; a firstnonmagnetic layer provided between the first magnetic layer and thesecond magnetic layer; a second nonmagnetic layer provided on the firstmagnetic layer, which is opposite the first nonmagnetic layer; and anamorphous Mo layer provided on the second nonmagnetic layer, which isopposite the first magnetic layer.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein afirst electrode is provided on a semiconductor substrate, and the firstmagnetic layer is disposed closer to the first electrode than the secondmagnetic layer.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein a first electrode isprovided on a semiconductor substrate, and the second magnetic layer isdisposed closer to the first electrode than the first magnetic layer. 6.The device of claim 3, wherein a first electrode is provided on asemiconductor substrate, and the first magnetic layer is disposed closerto the first electrode than the second magnetic layer.
 7. The device ofclaim 3, wherein a first electrode is provided on a semiconductorsubstrate, and the second magnetic layer is disposed closer to the firstelectrode than the first magnetic layer.
 8. A magnetoresistive memorydevice comprising: a bottom electrode; a first magnetic layer providedon the bottom electrode, a magnetization direction of the first magneticlayer being invariable; a first nonmagnetic layer provided on the firstmagnetic layer; a second magnetic layer provided on the firstnonmagnetic layer, a magnetization direction of the second magneticlayer being variable, the second magnetic layer including Mo; a secondnonmagnetic layer provided on the second magnetic layer; and an upperelectrode provided on the second nonmagnetic layer.
 9. The device ofclaim 8, wherein: the first magnetic layer is a reference layer havingmagnetic anisotropy perpendicular to a film surface; the second magneticlayer is a storage layer having magnetic anisotropy perpendicular to afilm surface; and the first nonmagnetic layer is a tunnel barrier layerthrough which a tunneling current flows.
 10. The device of claim 8,wherein the second nonmagnetic layer comprises MgO.
 11. The device ofclaim 8, wherein the first and the second nonmagnetic layers aredifferent materials.
 12. The device of claim 8, wherein the secondmagnetic layer includes Fe or Co.
 13. The device of claim 8, wherein thesecond magnetic layer has a stacked layer structure in which a middlelayer including Mo is provided between magnetic material layers.
 14. Thedevice of claim 8, wherein the second nonmagnetic layer is an oxide. 15.The device of claim 8, further comprising a first layer provided betweenthe bottom electrode and the first magnetic layer.
 16. The device ofclaim 15, wherein the first layer includes at least one element selectedfrom the group consisting of Al, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Sc, Y, La, Si, Zr,Hf, W, Cr, Mo, Nb, Ti, Ta, and V, or a boride of these elements.